Page 120 of Summer People
Wilder. He’s been here all day. Dealing with the constant flow of reporters who’ve come knocking and sending them all away. He hasn’t complained, and he hasn’t left my side.
“Thank you,” I say as he hands me an amber bottle. Though my appreciation is for something else entirely.
He clinks his bottle against mine.
“Elephant in the room?” I smirk. “Thank fuck the beard’s gone.”
He chuckles. “Dude, so many people have taken my picture. I couldn’t stand looking at it. It had to go.”
“Smart choice.”
He rests his forearms on the counter. “Elephant in the room?”
I hum in assent.
“Libby’s endgame.”
I nod. No doubt she is my forever.
“And she’s gone…” The words trail off like he’s expecting me to deny it, but we both know it’s true. “So…what the fuck are you still doing here?”
I rear back like I’ve been punched in the gut. Once I’ve caught my breath, I drop my head into my hands. “Sutton.”
“Is very portable,” he jokes. “She’s what? Sixty pounds? Easy enough to pick up and move anywhere.”
I fight an eye roll. He’s ridiculous. “I can’t justgo.”
“Why?” He says it like the idea is simple.
He, of all people, should get it. I can’t abandon the citizens of Monhegan. Hunter isn’t here anymore. That’s why I’ve slotted into his role. If I leave, then what happens?
“What do you mean why?”
He sets his beer down and plants his palm on the counter. “I mean why can’t you go? We’ve all been trying to get you to leave for a year now.”
I scoff. What the hell is he talking about? Every day, I swear this island needs me more, not less.
“Man.” He shakes his head, ruffling his messy blond hair. “Why do you think we keep piling on more shit jobs? We did it hoping you’d see that this life is not what you want.”
I sputter. Is he saying that all the deliveries and errands and goat herding nonsense?—
“I don’t understand.”
With a chuckle, he slaps my shoulder. “We all love you. But after a year on this island, you were miserable. We all see it. You’re not meant to stay here, so we started giving you shit to do, thinking you’d get fed up and say enough is enough. Instead, you just kept taking it.”
The air slowly leaks from my lungs. “Are you telling me Hunter never did all that shit?”
Wilder laughs. “No way he’d have put up with being the island errand boy. And that goat made him insane. That’s why when Libby finally brought it up, we all happily took over the jobs we’re capable of doing. We’ve just been waiting for you to realize that you’re meant for more than this.”
I rough a hand down my beard as I process what he’s saying. “You’re saying everyone wants me gone.”
“No.” He shakes his head resolutely. “If you were happy here, then we’d be thrilled to have you. But you’re not. And we just want you to be happy. Sutton too. There’s no reason to stay unless it’s what you want. And it’s not. We’re not saying jump ship and never come back. I expect you to visit all the damn time, or spend summers here, but your life has always been in Boston.”
For three years, the possibility of leaving has felt just out of reach. But if what he says is true, if the islanders would accept us if we became summer people, then maybe…
I blow out a breath. There’s still one big issue.
Scowling, I bow my head. “I can’t. You know what Marissa and Hunter wanted.”
